Land-marker



(No Model.)

wime/aaeo a? C I @ow m IZIIIIIIIIIIHH y 2 sheets sheet W. 'B. HUFF- LAND MARKER.

Patented Sept. 29, 1896.

(No Model.) 2 Sheets-Sheet 2.

W. B. HUFF. LAND MARKER.

No. 568,534. Patented e t.-29,1896..

m I IIIIIHIIHII PATENT 'FFICE.

WILLIAM B. HUFF, or vANDALIA, ILLINOIS.

LAND-MARKER.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 568,534, dated September 29, 1896.

' Application filed June 16, 1896. Serial No. 595,782. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, WILLIAM B. HUFF, a citizen of the United States, residing at Vandalia, in the county of Fayette and State of Illinois, have invented certain new and usef ul Improvements in Land-Markers; and I do hereby declare the following to be afull, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

My invention has reference to what is termed a marking device, the same being an attachment to be applied to a corn-planter of any preferred construction, the object being the provision of a simple and effective mechanism which will be thoroughly efficient in operation.

The object of a marking device, as will be understood, is to designate by certain welldefined lines made in the soil the position to be occupied by the planter-wheels, enabling the driver to plant the grain in straight parallel rows. The construction of the in echanism by means of which such results are attained will be fully described in the accompanying specification, illustrated in the drawings, and covered by the claims appended.

Referring to the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is a rear view of my invention applied to use, showing one end of the marking device in operative position in the soil. Fig. 2 is a top plan View of Fig. 1. a side elevation of the pulley-block through which the marker reciprocates. Fig.4 is a vertical section of the pulley-block on line A A, Fig. 3. Fig. 5 is a detail of one of the bearing-frames. Fig. 6 shows a preferred form of check-button.

In the accompanying description figures of reference will be employed to designate the several parts, the same figure referring to similar parts throughout the several views.

In developing my invention I provide the pulley-block 1, which is pivotally connected to the central section of the rear end of the planter-frame 2, which form of connection permits a rotary or semirotary movement of said block. A transverse central aperture 3 is provided in the block 1, which is adapted to receive the marker-body 4; and permit the same to have a longitudinal movement therein. In order to provide for afreer movement Fig. 3 is of said marker, I provide the roller-bearings 5, which are mounted in the body 1 so as to present their surface to the marker and reduce the friction caused by its longitudinal movement to the minimum.

In order to reinforce the marker and hold the same in operative position and place it under the easy control of the operator, I provide the bearing-frames 6, which are preferably formed of loops of sheet metal, though other material may be employed, and carry in each end the frictional rollers 7. The said bearing-frames are pivoted to either corner of the planter-frame, which will permit said bearing-frames to rotate thereon, the purpose of which will be hereinafter set forth.

The lower ends of each of the bearingframes 6 are provided with the opening 8, adapted to receive and have secured thereto the ends of ropes or other controlling device, which, when drawn upon by the operator, will cause a swinging movement of said frames.

The marker-body is so formed that it will pass loosely through between the sides of the bearing-frame, and when one end of said marker is down in an operative position it will rest upon one of the bearing-rollers carried by said frame. It will therefore be seen that the bearings 7 circumscribe the vertical movement of the marker and also support the same, thus reinforcing the bearing-block 1. In order to provide for the longitudinal movement of the marker, both of the free ends thereof are provided with apertures or rings 9, to which a rope, of wire or other material, is secured, after first passing from one of said rings 9 through pulley blocks 10, mounted in the front corners of the planterframe.

It will be appreciated that the marker may be freely moved through the bearing-block l and the bearing-frames 6 from one side of the planter to the other. Each end of the marker is provided with shoes 11, adapted to take into the soil and make a positive or delicate mark therein, as may be preferred.

The length of the marker-body may be-determined by the requirements of the operator, and in order to reinforce the marker when it is taking into the soil I provide the buttons 12. It will be seen that when the marker is moved entirely to one side one of said butthus prevent further movement of the marker and at the same time firmly connect with the shoe thereof and positively draw the same through the soil, thus taking the strain which would otherwise fall upon the marker-body. The location of said buttons 12 will control the lateral reach of the marker, and for such reason I prefer to have the buttons adj ustably secured to the rope, that the same may be easily moved and adjusted in any preferred location thereon.

In the upper forward end of the pulleyblock 1 I mount pulleys 13, which are adapted to receive the rope 14, used to control the bearing-frames 6. One end of the rope 14: is attached to the apertures or rings 8 in the lower end of the bearing-frames 6 and passes upward over pulleys 13 and pulleys 15 (the latter being mounted upon the upper end of the seatstandard close under the seat) and then downward, where the other end is secured to the foot-levers 15, respectively, and it will be seen that when the levers are simultaneously depressed they will cause the ropes 1-1 to act upon the lower free ends of the bearing-frames 6 in such a manner that they will be drawn toward each other, thus causing the lower bearing-rollers 7 to bear snugly against the under side of the markerbody and the upper bearing-roller 7 to bear upon the upper side of said marker, thereby holding the same securely in a horizontal plane. This position is desirable when the planter is being moved from place to place or in turning the same at the ends of the rows. By moving the body of the marker in such a manner that one of the buttons will rest against its pulley-block it will be seen that the shoe thus extended will, by force of gravity, swing downward in contact with the earth, and by its own weight, which may be supplemented, if desired, cause an impression to be made in the surface as the machine is drawn over the ground.

The bearings 7, provided in the bearing frames, will reduce the friction to the lowest point and at the same time permit a freer movement of the marker. hen the marker is extended ready for operation, it is secured in such position by the retaining-pin 16, which rests in a vertical plane when in use and reaches downward through an aperture provided in the pulley-block l and through one of the apertures provided in the marker, thus holding the latter effectively to its Work.

The location of the apertures in the marker can be so graduated as to coincide with the positions desired by the shoe. An aperture is provided in the central section of the marker, and when the pin is sent home therein the marker will be held securely in position while the planter is moved from place to place.

Having thus fully described my invention, what I claim asnew, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

l. A marking device for planting-machines, consisting of a bearing-block and seat provided therein, having its faces provided with roller-bearings 5 the marker-body mounted in said seat and means for reciprocating the same longitudinally, substantially as described and for the purpose named.

2. In a marking device for planting-machines, the combination with the planter of the bearing-block having the transverse central aperture the faces of which are provided with bearings for contact with the markerbody; bearing-frames provided at either end with frictional rollers; the marker adapted to take through said central aperture in the bearing-block and means for connecting the lower ends of the bearing-frames with the foot-lever in such a manner that the lower end of said frames may be drawn toward each other, substantially as described and for the purpose named.

3. The land-marker herein described consisting of the body 1, pivotally secured to the planter-frame and provided with roller-bearings for engagement with the marker-bodyg the marker adapted to take through said bearing-block; bearingframes provided with roller-bearings adapted to receive the outer ends of the marker-body and facilitate the raising and lowering of the ends thereof; means for shifting the marker-body from side to side and for holding the same in an adjusted position, as described and for the purpose named.

4. In a landmarker the combination with the planter of the bearing-frames pivoted or journaled thereon; the marker-body reachin g through said bearing-frames; the bearingblock having a central transverse aperture adapted to snugly receive the marker-body and means for swinging said bearing-frames into engagement with the marker-body and holding the same in a horizontal plane, substantially as described and for the purpose named.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

, \VILLIAM l3. IIUFF.

\Vitnesses:

Row. L. VAI-IL, C. F. IIIeeINs. 

